Outstanding rice farmer shares ways to increase production

CEBU, Philippines - Born to a farming family from  Bilar, Bohol, Danilo Calamba, this year's  Regional Outstanding Rice Farmer, shares four ways to increase farm production based on his lifelong experience which included a year-long agricultural training in Japan.

“Hardwork is not enough.  It has to be combined with  technology that will boost production.”  He believes that what he is practicing now is the formula to success.

Use hybrid variety. According to Danilo, by using the hybrid rice technology alone, he already has the edge of increasing his yield by 25percent compared to other farmers who use the inbred variety. That's the reason why during the 2013 wet cropping season, his total production per hectare reached around 5,100 kg which earned him a net income of  around P120T per hectare.

Danilo said that even during the dry season,  hybrid rice still do well, giving him  a per hectare production of around 4,100 kg translated to around P81T. Based on experience,  he could only earn around P60T per hectare if he used the inbred variety. He said he was convinced to use the hybrid variety by  the local technician from the Municipal Agriculture Office.  As president of the San Isidro Labrador Farmers' Association, Danilo is aggressively advocating the use of hybrid seeds to other farmers in the locality. 

Go multi-cropping.

Another way to increase farm production and income is to multi-crop. Multi cropping means growing more than one crop in a cropping season. The practice  has been recommended by the Department of Agriculture (DA RFO 7) as it provides opportunities for more income. 

Danilo's farm is planted  with banana, rootcrops (gabi), mango and coconuts. His 500 mango trees alone can easily generate a modest income  of  between P20-30T per tree a year. His 10-hectare farm is  surrounded by 500 coconuts which has an annual income of about  P200T a year. Other minor crops in his farm brings an annual income of  around P50T.

Do farm integration.

Danilo is not only into multi-cropping, he is  likewise adopting an integrated farming system. The beauty of integrating crop and livestock production is that it works in a coordinated framework leaving no unused waste in the farm. His 40-head piggery and 18-head cattle production produce wastes that are decomposed as fertilizers for his crops. Crop residues are also fed to his livestock thereby supplementing the nutrient needs of the animals. Aside from this benefit, the system adds more to his income. In 2013, Danilo earned P320T from his cattle and swine production. Danilo attributed the significant increase in income from farm integration.

Supplement with  organic fertilizers. Danilo attributes increase in production to organic fertilizer supplementation.  As an alumnus of the International Farm Youth Exchange in Japan, he was  taught how to recycle farm wastes by decomposting rice straw and hull which abounds in his farm. For his rice production, he said he combines organic with commerical fertilizers in order to bring the desired results. Based on his experience, combining fertilizers has a  neutralizing effect on the soil and is perfect for soil conditioning.

Danilo said following simple farm techniques has made him a successful rice farmer. Now he owns three tractors and two rice threshers, helps the local government generate jobs by hiring 40 workers in his farm, and  owns a rice and corn mill. His farm is now a showcase of  success which started with a dream from his childhood. He had reached the zenith of that dream  when he was finally recognized as this year's Outstanding Regional Gawad Saka Rice Farmer.  (FREEMAN)